Pocono emergency crews prepare for 'Frankenstorm'; generators sold out

Friday

Oct 26, 2012 at 10:47 AMOct 26, 2012 at 3:07 PM

The Poconos should feel the effects of the hybrid storm dubbed 'Frankenstorm' by Monday, according to Pocono weather expert Ben Gelber, and that has local agencies getting ready. Gelber said the track for Hurricane Sandy varies from model to model, offering a wide range of possible trajectories.

The Poconos should feel the effects of the hybrid storm dubbed 'Frankenstorm' by Monday, according to Pocono weather expert Ben Gelber, and that has local agencies getting ready.

Gelber said the track for Hurricane Sandy varies from model to model, offering a wide range of possible trajectories. Those range from a landfall over Chesapeake Bay Monday, to a wider turn well off the Mid-Atlantic coast with a later landfall Tuesday.

“The most remarkable aspect of this storm is the likely merger with the upper-level cold low that will eventually draw the now subtropical low (mix of tropical and extratropical characteristics) back toward Long Island and New Jersey,” Gelber said.

He predicts waves of torrential rain and 40 to 60 mph winds that could buffet the region Monday into Tuesday.

“The storm will linger over the region through midweek, raising serious flooding concerns. This kind of storm could deliver 5 to 10 inches of rain, something we have experienced multiple times in various tropical storm scenarios between 2004 and 2010,” Gelber said.

Generators have once again become the area's most precious commodity. The Lowe's and Home Depot in Stroud Township are both sold out, as is the Tractor Supply Company in Brodheadsville. As of this afternoon, generators have also sold out at Cramer's.

Home Depot is expecting to get some more generators in stock tonight, while Lowe's expects an order in the next few days.

Did you buy a generator this week in anticipation of the storm? Tell us about it at newsroom@poconorecord.com.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation was out Friday morning, clearing many drainage ditches to reduce the chance of flooding, according to Ron Young, a PennDOT spokesman. The agency is also making sure that all its equipment is ready and in working order, including snow plows.

Hurricane Sandy is likely to blend with a winter storm to cause a “super storm,” which could actually dump snow on Pennsylvania.

Over at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, spokeswoman Kathleen Sandt said that the National Park Service is currently in a “pre-staging” phase, meaning that staff members are taking many precautionary measures like placing barriers alongside flood-prone roads in the recreation area, so staff will be able to close those roads at a moment's notice if need be. She said that if Sandy is bad, expect parts of Route 209 in the recreation area and River Road to close.

Sandt said that the park service has learned a lot from other storms and hurricanes in recent years and is therefore planning early.

PPL is calling in crews to Pennsylvania from Kentucky on Sunday to make sure it has enough staff on hand.

Chuck Jones, president of FirstEnergy, the parent company of Met-Ed, which is the other major provider of power in the Poconos, said this on Met-Ed's website: "Based on current predictions, we are making plans to position our crews to get ahead of the storm and minimize the impact on our customers. FirstEnergy crews and additional hazard teams and support staff are ready to assist the restoration process."

American Red Cross chapters across Northeast Pennsylvania are in the second day of preparation for the potential of a dangerous storm system associated with Hurricane Sandy.

“Although there is still some uncertainty as to the track, the potential of the storm impacting our area is increasing by the day. The 13 Red Cross chapters in Northeast Pennsylvania are placing trained disaster workers, vehicles and supplies on alert in the 16-county region. We're also working in close collaboration with government officials and community partners to coordinate potential response efforts,” said Adrian Grieve, Red Cross regional emergency services officer for Northeast Pennsylvania. “We're planning for the worst, and hoping for the best.” The Red Cross recommends these quick steps to take now to be prepared for emergencies like severe storms – build a kit, make a plan and be informed.

Emergency kits should contain a three-day supply of water for each person in the household, along with food that doesn't require refrigeration, flashlights, a battery-operated radio and a first aid kit. A full list of suggested items is available on redcross.org.

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